Stone cut and method of making

ABSTRACT

A stone cut and method for cutting a stone that increases the number of facets on the stone as well as the scintillation, brilliance, and light reflectivity of the stone. The stone cut and method includes cutting angles and increasing the number of facets that, either separately or together, manage the external and internal light flow dynamics of a round cut diamond to a higher level of efficiency, effectiveness, and performance.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/619,982, filed Jul. 14, 2003, which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to a cut precious stone and amethod for cutting a precious stone. More particularly, the method forcutting the precious stone and the cut of the precious stone of thepresent invention produces a precious stone with more brilliance,scintillation, and light dispersion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, gemstones have been cut in many shapes andconfigurations. Typically, precious stones, such as diamonds, are cut toaccent high coefficients of brilliancy, scintillation, and dispersion oflight. In general, gemstones, particularly diamonds, are cut such thatlight entering upper portions of the stone are totally reflected andrefracted within the stone, and light also emerges back through the topportion of the stone to the eye of the observer.

Many different stone cuts have attempted to bring out the greatestpossible life of a diamond, i.e., give a diamond the most “fire” aspossible. One such cut for diamonds that has received much glory andadmiration is the round or “brilliant” cut. The round or brilliant cutis popular for diamonds gemstones as well. A brilliant-cut diamond isgenerally a round diamond with fifty-eight sides. A girdle (the outeredge of the gem) forms a junction between a pavilion (the lower section)and a crown (the upper section) of the gemstone. The crown typicallyincludes many flat faces, or facets, the largest typically being thetable, which is substantially parallel to the girdle. The pavilionincludes many facets that cover the pavilion and can extend from a lowertip of the pavilion (the culet) to the girdle or some portion thereof.The crown of a typical brilliant-cut gemstone generally includes starfacets, bezel or upper main facets, and upper girdle facets, while thepavilion generally includes pavilion main facets and lower girdlefacets.

Many gemstone cuts vary with respect to which facets are cut onto thegemstone and which are emphasized on the particular gemstone cut. It hasbecome generally accepted that the more facets a gemstone has, the morebrilliance, scintillation, and light dispersion the gemstone willportray, up to a point where the gemstone becomes too busy. The goal ofa gemstone cut is to prevent leakage of incident light through thebottom portion of the gemstone and to manage external and internal lightflow to maximize the return of white and color through the top of thegemstone. The traditional round brilliant cut model, due to its uniquefaceting arrangements, has limited ability to return white lightsignificantly. This results in the general observation of a dark toneappearance with the round brilliant cut diamond. The dark tone appearseven with diamonds that are cut to very perfect proportions having verywhite body color. This observation becomes even more pronounced withround brilliant cut diamonds that are cut to less than ideal proportionswhere leakage of light is significant. The loss of light through thebottom of the diamond creates dead zones.

Furthermore, due to the light return and internal light flowefficiencies of the round brilliant cut model, the proportions that arenecessary for this model to achieve optimal light performance requiresextraordinary loss of rough diamond material during the cutting process.Although, at the optimal light performance level for the traditionalmodel, the diamond appears more impressive than the poorly cut diamonds,the magnitude and quality of brilliance, dispersion and scintillationthat a round shape diamond cut is capable of achieving is not maximized.Nonetheless, the current desire of many cutters to cut diamonds to theideal cut proportions of the traditional round brilliant cut isdiscouraged by the requirements of significant weight loss of the roughdiamond material. This provides one explanation for the high numbers ofround brilliant diamonds with poorly cut proportions that are producedevery year.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to cut a gemstone, such as adiamond, with proportions that prevent light leakage and with a facetingarrangement that is more efficient and effective in returning more whitelight, color light, and scintillation. Also, it would be moreadvantageous to provide a faceting arrangement that can harmonize andproperly balance the gemstone's key components of light performance, itsbrilliance, dispersion, and scintillation. Thereby, a higher level ofvisual and aesthetic beauty would be provided to the gemstone. Afaceting arrangement that improves the total light return efficiency ofthe diamond by changing the pathway which light travels within thediamond would also be advantageous. Thereby, the weight loss duringcutting would be significantly reduced. Overall, it would be desirableto produce a gemstone with a faceting arrangement that returns morebrilliance, fire (dispersion), and scintillation, and that appearslighter and that can be cut with less weight loss to achieve a greaterlight performance than the traditional model.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides a stone cut and a methodfor cutting a stone providing increased scintillation, brilliance, anddispersion of light. The cut, in accordance with one aspect of theinvention, has a girdle, crown, and pavilion, and includes an increasednumber of facets on either or both the crown or the pavilion over thetraditional number of facets. The increased number of facets may beobtained by providing additional upper girdle facets (over thetraditional number) surrounding the perimeter of the stone above thegirdle. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the uppergirdle facets preferably extend from a lower side along the girdle ofthe stone to a common upper vertex located toward a table on the crown.Preferably, there are three upper girdle facets per side of the table.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the increasednumber of facets may be obtained by providing additional lower girdlefacets (over the traditional number) on the pavilion of the stone. Theincreased number of facets on the pavilion portion results from anincrease in the number of lower girdle facets. Preferably, the lowergirdle facets are positioned between each pair of pavilion main facetsand extend from an upper side along a girdle of the stone to a portionof the pavilion. Also preferably, there are three lower girdle facetsbetween each pavilion main facet.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, thepavilion main facets, on the pavilion of the stone extending upwardsfrom the culet, vary in thickness. The pavilion main facets canalternate in thickness between thick and thin. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the thick pavilion main facets are about 50 percentthicker than the thin pavilion main facets.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, one of thelower girdle facets is rotated about an axis.

These and other features and advantages of embodiments of the presentinvention will be readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the invention, the scope of the invention being set outin the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters representlike elements, as follows:

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of a stone cut accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a stone according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a stone having a crown as in FIG. 1 and apavilion as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A shows a side view of the stone of FIG. 3 having rotated girdlefacets;

FIG. 4 shows angles and dimensions of a stone as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a top view of another embodiment of the present inventionof a stone cut according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of a stone as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of a stone cut according to anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 shows a top view of a stone cut as in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to FIGS. 1-3, stone 10, such as a diamond, cut according to anembodiment of the present invention, is generally similar to abrilliant-cut diamond. Stone 10 has a generally round shape, when viewedfrom the top downward or bottom upward, and a generally pyramidal shapewhen viewed from the side. Stone 10 generally has girdle 60 defining theouter edge and widest portion of stone 10 in a top downward or bottomupward view; crown 40 defining the upper portion above girdle 60;pavilion 80 defining the lower portion below girdle 60; and culet 20defining the lowest portion of pavilion 80. For purposes of explanation,features of stone 10 will be referenced with respect to central axis 12that extends from culet 20 (FIG. 3), at a lower portion of stone 10,through the center of table 102, as represented by the dashed line 12 ofFIG. 3. Furthermore, the outer edge of stone 10, girdle 60, will bereferred to as the periphery of stone 10.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention ofstone 10 cut with many flat faces, or facets, on crown 40. For example,according to one embodiment of the present invention, crown 40 hasfifty-one (51) facets. The largest facet on crown 40 is table 102.According to the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1, table102 has a ten sided configuration or a decagon shape with ten verticesadjoining adjacent sides of the decagon. However, table 102 may havefewer or more sides instead.

Each side of table 102 of FIG. 1 forms one side of a substantiallytriangular shaped star facet 104. Adjacent star facets 104 adjoin atvertices nearest table 102, thereby encircling table 102 with a ring ofstar facets 104. Also located on crown 40 are ten upper main or bezelfacets 106. Bezel facets 106 are substantially kite shaped with foursides or edges and four vertices. It is preferred that an axiallycenter-most upper vertex V1 of each of bezel facets 106 adjoins table102 at the point where vertices of adjacent star facets 104 adjoin table102 and each other. It is also preferable that the axially center-mostlower vertex V2 of each of bezel facets 106 extends to girdle 60.Therefore, one set of opposed upper and lower vertices V1 and V2 of eachof bezel facets 106 extends between girdle 60 and table 102, whilecircumferentially adjoining lateral vertices V3 and V4 of bezel facets106 adjoin with the lower-most vertex of star facets 104.

The remaining surface area of crown 40 is occupied by upper girdlefacets 110, 112, and 114. Upper girdle facets 110, 112, and 114 arepositioned around the periphery of crown 40 between the lower-mostvertices V2 of adjacent bezel facets 106 and with a bottom side alonggirdle 60. Traditionally, there are two upper girdle facets positionedbetween each adjacent pair of bezel facets 106. However, in accordancewith the principles of embodiments of the present invention, theembodiment of FIG. 1 preferably has three upper girdle facets 110, 112,and 114 between each adjacent pair of bezel facets 106. Upper girdlefacets 110, 112, and 114 preferably extend from girdle 60 to a commonvertex 120, extending towards table 102 and which preferably adjoins thelower-most vertex of star facet 104 and the adjoining lateral vertices,V3 and V4, of bezel facets 106. The inclusion of a third upper girdlefacet 114 preferably between each pair of bezel facets 106 increases thescintillation and light dispersion of stone 10. Moreover, the additionalupper girdle facet provides a crown of a round-shaped diamond with anadditional set of facets typically equal to the number of sides of thepolygonal-shaped table 102 of stone 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 1,when table 102 is in the preferred shape of a decagon, ten extra facetsare incorporated onto crown 40 of stone 10 by configuring three uppergirdle facets 110, 112, and 114 (i.e., by providing an extra girdlefacet) between each pair of bezel facets 106. Therefore, according tothis embodiment, a total of fifty-one (51) facets are preferablyprovided on the crown of a stone 10 with a decagon-shaped table 102.This is roughly a twenty-five percent increase in the number of crownfacets over a traditional round stone with a decagon-shaped table 102.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a stone 10 showing pavilion 80. Generally,there are preferably pavilion main facets 202, lower girdle facets 220,222, and 224, and a culet 20 on the pavilion of stone 10. The pavilionmain facets 202 are preferably configured substantially in a kite shapewith a lower vertex on culet 20 and an upper vertex on girdle 60.According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper vertex ofpavilion main facets 202 preferably terminates at girdle 60 in alignmentwith the lower-most vertex of corresponding bezel facets 106.

Culet 20 can preferably be a point, as shown in the figures, or a planarpolygonal surface with a number of sides equal to and determined by thenumber of pavilion main facets 202. A planar polygonal culet surface ispreferably formed by providing a facet instead of a point for culet 20.The culet facet may also mimic the configuration of table 102, therebytaking on as many sides as that of table 102, only in a reduced size.Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2,culet 20, if cut to be a facet instead of a point, is preferably in theshape of a decagon because pavilion 80 has ten pavilion main facets 202.

Lower girdle facets 220, 222, and 224 preferably have a top side alonggirdle 60 and a lower vertex extending toward culet 20. Althoughtraditionally there are only two lower girdle facets between adjacentpavilion main facets 202 on a round diamond, in the embodiment of thepresent invention shown in FIG. 2, there are preferably three lowergirdle facets 220, 222, and 224 on pavilion 80 between each pair ofadjacent pavilion main facets 202. A first lower girdle facet 220preferably has one side in common with a side of a first pavilion mainfacet 202 and another side in common with a side of a third lower girdlefacet 224. Additionally, a second lower girdle facet 222 preferably hasone side in common with a side of a second pavilion main facet 202(adjacent the first pavilion main facet) and preferably has another sidein common with a second side of the third lower girdle facet 224. Theadditional lower girdle facet increases the scintillation and dispersionof stone 10.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a lower girdlefacet is preferably rotated clockwise or counterclockwise about an axisextending from culet 20 to girdle 60 and preferably (though notnecessarily) lying in the plane of the lower girdle facet such that thefacet is not tangent to a common imaginary general circumference ofstone 10 about which the other lower girdle facets lie and to which theother lower girdle facets are tangent. Therefore, generally amicro-facet (not shown) is created between the edges of the rotatedlower girdle facet and its neighboring facets. According to a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the lower girdle facet ispreferably rotated at least about 0 degrees and at most about 10degrees. It is more preferred that the lower girdle facet be rotated atleast about 0 degrees and at most about 4 degrees. However, as will beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the angle of rotationmay vary from such preferred minimum and maximum values if the desiredimproved scintillation and light dispersion is nonetheless achieved.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, if lower girdle facet 224 is rotatedclockwise about an axis extending from culet 20 to girdle 60 and wherethe axis lies along the common edge of lower girdle facets 220 and 224,the adjacent edges of lower girdle facet 224 and lower girdle facet 222are not coextensive. Accordingly, a new micro-facet M is created betweenadjacent edges of lower girdle facets 222 and 224, respectively.Additionally, a tapered micro-facet (not shown) is also created betweenlower girdle facet 224 and girdle 60. This tapered micro-facet begins atthe upper left edge of lower girdle facet 224 at girdle 60 and expandsalong girdle 60 to a maximum width at the right edge of lower girdlefacet 224 bordering lower girdle facet 222.

Likewise, lower girdle facet 224 could be rotated counterclockwise aboutan axis extending from culet 20 to girdle 60 and preferably (though notnecessarily) lying in the plane of the lower girdle facet 224, creatinga micro-facet between the respective edges of lower girdle facet 224 andlower girdle facet 220. Furthermore, lower girdle facet 224 can berotated clockwise or counterclockwise about an axis parallel to girdle60. In this respect, rotating the lower girdle facet 224 clockwise aboutan axis that is parallel to girdle 60 and that extends from left toright causes a slight flattening of the corner of the lower girdle facetthat intrudes into the general diameter of stone 10 along the left andright edges of lower girdle facet 224 with lower girdle facets 220 and222, respectively. Moreover, lower girdle facet 224 may be rotated aboutan axis located at some point between adjoining edges of lower girdlefacet 220 and lower girdle facet 224, and adjoining edges of lowergirdle facet 222 and lower girdle facet 224, thereby creatingmicro-facets around the perimeter of lower girdle facet 224.

It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that eachlower girdle facet of stone 10 can be rotated in the same direction andat the same degree or each lower girdle facet of stone 10 can be rotatedin different directions and/or degrees. Furthermore, the axis ofrotation can be directed in any orientation.

A stone in accordance with the principles of the present invention mayhave a crown 40 as in FIG. 1 or a pavilion 80 as in FIG. 2, or both, asin FIG. 3. Thus, an additional upper girdle facet may be providedbetween each bezel facet 106 of a round cut stone, without altering thetraditional number of lower girdle facets. Similarly, an additionallower girdle facet may be provided between each pavilion main facet 202of a round cut stone, without altering the traditional number of uppergirdle facets. Or, additional upper girdle facets, as in FIG. 1, andadditional lower girdle facets, as in FIG. 2, may be provided on thesame stone 10.

From a side perspective view of a stone with additional upper girdlefacets and lower girdle facets, such as in FIG. 3, the combination ofupper girdle facets 110, 112, and 114, and lower girdle facets 220, 222,and 224 form a substantially smaller kite-shaped facet within a largerkite-shaped facet. In particular, the girdle sides of upper girdlefacets 110, 112, and 114 are adjacent the girdle sides of lower girdlefacets 220, 222, 224, respectively, of pavilion 80. Upper girdle facets110 and 112 and lower girdle facets 220 and 222 form what appears to bea larger kite-shaped facet with a smaller kite shaped facet therein,formed by the combination of the additional upper girdle facet 114 andthe additional lower girdle facet 224, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Exemplary preferred measurements of a stone 10 cut as in FIG. 3 areprovided in FIG. 4, where the dimensions are given as a percentage ofthe width or diameter L of stone 10. There are a number of differentstandards for an “ideal cut” diamond according to the American GemSociety (AGS) and Gemological Institute of America (GIA). However, dueto the increased number of upper and or lower girdle facets of theembodiments of the present invention, stone 10 can deviate from the“ideal cut” standard set by these reputable organizations and exceed thevisual equivalent and/or benefits of an “ideal cut” stone. In accordancewith this deviation, girdle 60 has a preferred thickness T, betweencrown 40 and pavilion 80 of at least about 0.50 percent and at mostabout 4 percent of the total diameter L of stone 10. In a more preferredembodiment, girdle 60 has a thickness T of at least about 0.50 percentand at most about 2.95 percent of the total diameter L of stone 10.Table 102 preferably has a cross-section width L1 of not less than about50 percent and not more than about 66 percent of the diameter L of stone10. It is more preferred that table 102 has a cross-section width L1 ofnot less than about 52 percent and not more than about 60 percent of thediameter L of stone 10 at girdle 60. Angle θ₁, between the horizontal orgirdle 60 and the side of crown 40, is not less than about 30 degreesand not more than about 37 degrees. In a more preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, angle θ₁ is preferably not less than about 33.7degrees and not more than about 35.8 degrees. Angle θ₂, between thehorizontal or girdle 60 and a side of pavilion 80, is preferably atleast about 39 degrees and at most about 43 degrees. More preferably,angle θ₂ is at least about 40.5 degrees and at most about 41.5 degrees.Crown height HI of the present invention is preferably at least about 11percent and at most about 18 percent of the total diameter L of stone10. More preferably, crown height HI is at least about 14 percent and atmost about 16.5 percent of the total diameter L of stone 10. Paviliondepth, as indicated by H2, is preferably not less than about 40 percentand not more than about 46 percent of total diameter L of stone 10. Itis more preferable that pavilion depth H2 be not less than about 42.2percent and not more than about 43.8 percent of total diameter L ofstone 10.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 5, crown 40 is preferably in the shape of a twelve sided polygon,i.e., is a dodecagon-shaped table 502. Abutting each side ofdodecagon-shaped table 502 are preferably star facets 504. Adjacent starfacets 504 encircle dodecagon table 502 with adjacent star facets 504adjoined at lateral vertices. Because star facets 504 extend from a sideof dodecagon-shaped table 502, there is preferably an equal number ofstar facets 504 as sides of dodecagon-shaped table 502, or twelve starfacets 504. Additionally, there is preferably a substantiallykite-shaped bezel facet 506 extending from each vertex V ofdodecagon-shaped table 502 and terminating at girdle 60. Two or threeupper girdle facets 510, 512, 514 may be provided between the lowerportion of each bezel facets 506. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, therepreferably are an equivalent number of pavilion main facets 602extending from culet 604 toward and terminating at girdle 60. Pavilionmain facets 602 are substantially kite shaped. Located between eachadjacent pair of pavilion main facets 602 may be two or three lowergirdle facets 606, 608, and 610. It will be appreciated by one ofordinary skill in the art that placing a twelve-sided table or twelvepavilion main facets on a stone may only be appropriate for a stone of acertain size, i.e., a quarter of a carat or more, because a small stonemay become too busy and, thus, take away from the effectiveness of thecut.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the numberof sides of the polygon shape of the table of a stone cut in accordancewith the principles of the embodiments of the present invention can bealtered without changing the scope of the present invention. Generally,fewer than eight sides on the polygonal table does not provide thedesired scintillation, and more than twelve sides on the polygonal tablegenerally result in a diamond that is too busy. Similar principles aretrue for the associated crown and pavilion facets. However, depending onthe size and quality of the initial stone, the number of polygonal sidesof the table and other crown and pavilion facets may be altered. Thus,fewer or more sides on the table and/or facets on the stone arenonetheless within the scope of the present invention.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, an exemplary stone 800, shown cut to be a precious gem,preferably has pavilion main facets 870 that alternate in thickness.Generally, stone 800 has a table 802, which is the largest facet on thecrown on stone 800, the table 802 preferably having the same number ofsides as the number of pavilion main facets 870.

FIG. 7 shows a pavilion portion of stone 800. The pavilion portion has aculet 850 at a bottom-most point. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, culet 850 could be a facet instead of a point, as describedabove. Substantially kite-shaped pavilion main facets 870 preferablyextend from culet 850 to girdle 860. Pavilion main facets 870 preferablyvary in width. It is preferred that a first pavilion main facet 872 beat least about 30 percent wider, at its widest part, than a neighboringsecond pavilion main facet 874 and at most about 60 percent wider thanthe neighboring second pavilion main facet 874. It is more preferablethat a first pavilion main facet 872 be at least about 40 percent widerthan a neighboring thin pavilion main facet 874, and at most about 50percent wider than a neighboring thin pavilion main facet 874. Accordingto one exemplary embodiment, there are preferably ten pavilion mainfacets 870 around the pavilion or stone 800. Of those ten, fivepreferably have larger angles, about 42 degrees, and five preferablyhave smaller angles, about 30 degrees, thus totaling 360 degrees andresulting in the alternating widths of pavilion main facets 870. It willbe appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the overall sizeof stone 800 and the number of pavilion main facets in total on stone800 will be determining factors in the varying width of pavilion mainfacets 870. A further determining characterization for the widthvariation between pavilion main facets 870 is the overall reflectivityof light from stone 800.

Alternating the width of the pavilion main facets 870 changes theinternal symmetry of stone 800. Light that enters stone 800 is reflecteddifferently from a traditional round cut stone because of the varyingwidth of pavilion main facets 870. The altering width of pavilion mainfacets 870 produces five-fold symmetry in stone 800 with a ten-sidedpavilion. A result of pavilion main facet width alteration is anincrease in brilliance and scintillation and improved internal lightflow.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, stone 800 caninclude three (rather than two, as in traditional round-cut stones)upper girdle facets 820, 822, and 824. Upper girdle facets 820, 822, and824 are preferably positioned between adjacent bezel facets 806. Uppergirdle facets 820, 822, and 824 preferably extend from girdle 860 andterminate at a common vertex at adjoining lateral vertices of bezelfacets 806. Furthermore, according to yet another embodiment of thepresent invention, stone 800 can include three (rather than two, as intraditional round-cut stones) lower girdle facets 880, 882, and 884.Lower girdle facets 880, 882, and 884 are positioned between adjacentpavilion main facets 870. Lower girdle facets 880, 882, and 884 extendfrom a region on the pavilion to girdle 860. Lower girdle facets 880,882, and 884 align with upper girdle facets 820, 822, and 824,respectively at girdle 860.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, lower girdlefacets can be rotated such that the facet is not tangent to a commonimaginary general circumference of stone 10 about which the other lowergirdle facets lie and to which the other lower girdle facets aretangent. Lower girdle facets can be rotated counterclockwise orclockwise about an axis extending from culet 850 to girdle 860. A lowergirdle facet may also be rotated about an axis parallel to girdle 860.Depending on the axis of rotation, rotation of a lower girdle facetgenerally generates a micro-facet (not shown) at the boundary betweenthe rotated lower girdle facet and neighboring facets. The rotation oflower girdle facets is similar to rotation of lower girdle facetsdescribed above.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8,table 802 preferably has ten sides, or has a decagon shape. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, extending from each side of table 802 is agenerally triangular-shaped star facet 804. Star facets 804 abut eachother at lateral vertices forming a ring around table 802. Extendingfrom each vertex of table 802 is a bezel facet 806. Bezel facets 806extend from table 802 to girdle 860. Two or three upper girdle facets820, 822, 824 may be provided between the lower portion of each of bezelfacets 806.

It will be appreciated features described above with respect to oneembodiment typically may be applied to another embodiment, whether ornot explicitly indicated. The various features hereinafter described maybe used singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, the presentinvention is not limited to only the embodiments specifically describeherein. Furthermore, the principles of this invention can be applied toother gemstone cuts without exceeding the scope of the invention ascontemplated by the inventor.

The present invention also contemplates methods for forming theembodiments of the stone as described above. According to oneembodiment, the method preferably includes forming a pavilion portionhaving a culet and forming a crown portion having a table with apredetermined number of sides. The method also preferably includesforming a girdle which separates the pavilion portion from the crownportion. Additionally, the method preferably includes forming threeupper girdle facets per side of the table where the upper girdle facetsextend from the girdle to a vertex at the table. Pavilion main facetsare also preferably formed with this method extending from the girdleregion toward the culet region. The pavilion main facets preferablyextend from near the culet toward the girdle on the pavilion portion ofthe stone. According to another method of the present invention, whichmay or may not be performed in conjunction with the above-describedmethod, three lower girdle facets are preferably formed on the pavilionportion of the stone. The lower girdle facets are preferably positionedbetween adjacent pavilion main facets. According to another method ofthe present invention, which may or may not be performed in conjunctionwith either or both of the above-described methods, the thickness of thepavilion main facets may be varied in an alternating circumferentialpattern. According to yet another method of the present invention, whichmay or may not be performed in conjunction with any, several, or all ofthe above-described methods, at least one lower girdle facet ispreferably rotated such that the facet is not tangent to an imaginarygeneral circumference of the stone. The method may further includeforming multiple lower girdle facets on the pavilion portion of thestone where the lower girdle facets are at multiple angles not tangentto a common imaginary general circumference of the stone.

While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferredembodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that variousadditions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedin the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to thoseskilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with otherelements, materials, and components, without departing from the spiritor essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art willappreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications ofstructure, arrangement, proportions, materials, and components andotherwise, used in the practice of the invention, which are particularlyadapted to specific environments and operative requirements withoutdeparting from the principles of the present invention. The presentlydisclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoingdescription.

1. A stone, comprising: a pavilion portion having a culet; a crownportion having a table; a girdle separating said pavilion portion fromsaid crown portion; a plurality of pavilion main facets extendingbetween said girdle and said culet; at least three lower girdle facetspositioned between adjacent pavilion main facets, each of said at leastthree lower girdle facets having a top side along said girdle, whereinonly two of said at least three lower girdle facets have a common lowervertex extending towards said culet and a third lower girdle facet ofsaid at least three lower girdle facets has a separate lower vertexextending towards said culet; a plurality of bezel facets extendingbetween said girdle and said table; and at least three upper girdlefacets positioned between adjacent bezel facets, each of said at leastthree upper girdle facets having a common upper vertex extending towardssaid table, wherein each of said at least three upper girdle facets hasa bottom side along said girdle.
 2. The stone of claim 1, wherein saidcrown includes a plurality of star facets encircling said table, and abezel facet positioned between adjacent star facets and said girdle. 3.A stone, comprising: a pavilion portion having a culet; a crown portion;a girdle separating said pavilion portion from said crown portion; aplurality of pavilion main facets extending between said girdle and saidculet; and at least three lower girdle facets between each adjacent pairof said pavilion main facets, wherein at least one of said at leastthree lower girdle facets is rotated so that said at least one of saidat least three lower girdle facets is not tangent to a circumferenceabout said stone.
 4. The stone of claim 3, wherein a middle of saidthree lower girdle facets is rotated.
 5. A stone, comprising: a pavilionportion having a culet; a crown portion having a table with apredetermined number of sides; a girdle separating said pavilion portionfrom said crown portion; and at least three lower girdle facets for eachside of said table, each of said at least three lower girdle facetshaving a top side along said girdle, wherein only two of said at leastthree lower girdle facets have a common lower vertex extending towardssaid culet; and at least three upper girdle facets for each side of saidtable, each of said at least three upper girdle facets having a bottomside along said girdle, wherein said at least three upper girdle facetshave a common upper vertex extending toward said table.
 6. A method forcutting a stone, said method comprising: forming a pavilion portionhaving a culet; forming a crown portion having a table with apredetermined number of sides; forming a girdle separating said pavilionportion and said crown portion; and forming at least three lower girdlefacets between pairs of pavilion main facets, each of said at leastthree lower girdle facets having a top side along said girdle, whereinonly two of the at least three lower girdle facets have a common lowervertex extending towards said culet; and forming at least three uppergirdle facets for each side of said table, each of said at least threeupper girdle facets having a bottom side along said girdle, wherein saidat least three upper girdle facets have a common upper vertex extendingtoward said table.
 7. A method for cutting a stone, said methodcomprising: forming a crown portion having a table; forming a pavilionportion having a culet; forming a girdle separating said crown portionfrom said pavilion portion; forming a plurality of bezel facetsextending between said girdle and said table; forming a plurality ofpavilion main facets extending between said culet and said girdle;forming at least three upper girdle facets between adjacent bezelfacets, said at least three upper girdle facets having a common uppervertex extending towards said table, wherein each of said at least threeupper girdle facets has a bottom side along said girdle; and forming atleast three lower girdle facets between adjacent pavilion main facets,each of said at least three lower girdle facets having a top side alongsaid girdle, wherein only two of said at least three lower girdle facetshave a common lower vertex extending towards said culet and a thirdlower girdle facet of the at least three lower girdle facets having aseparate lower vertex extending toward said culet.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising: forming said table on said crown with aplurality of sides; forming a star facet extending from each side ofsaid table; forming bezel facets between said star facets, said bezelfacets each extending from a lower vertex at said girdle to an uppervertex at said table.
 9. A method for cutting a stone, said methodcomprising: forming a crown portion; forming a pavilion portionincluding a culet; forming a girdle separating said crown portion fromsaid pavilion portion; and forming a lower girdle facet on said pavilionportion rotated not to be tangent to a general circumference of saidstone.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising forming multiplelower girdle facets on said pavilion portion rotated to not be tangentto the general circumference of said stone.